Leinster number 8 Jack Conan tries to break clear of Toulouse's Francois Cros during the 2019 Heineken Champions Cup semi-final in Dublin ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Having fallen to a French side at this hurdle last year, Leinster are fiercely determined to get the better of Toulouse on home soil and qualify for their first Heineken Champions Cup final since 2019.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINAL: Saturday, May 14
LEINSTER v TOULOUSE, Aviva Stadium, 3pm (live BT Sport 1/beIN Sports/France 2/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights Virgin Media Two)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has announced an unchanged team to take on Toulouse in the last-four of the Heineken Champions Cup at Aviva Stadium this afternoon. Tickets are available to purchase here.
There is one enforced change to the matchday squad that conquered Leicester Tigers in England last weekend, with Ciaran Frawley replacing Tommy O’Brien on the bench.
Former Ireland Under-20 captain O’Brien sadly suffered an ACL injury this week ruling him out of the remainder of the campaign and beyond.
In the starting XV, winger Jimmy O’Brien will make his 50th appearance for the province as part of a potent back-three that also contains Hugo Keenan and James Lowe.
Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw continue their partnership in midfield, while captain Jonathan Sexton and last week’s Heineken star-of-the-match, Jamison Gibson-Park, complete a settled back-line.
Up front, Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong retain their spots ahead of a big scrum battle with the French side. Behind them will be Ross Molony and James Ryan, who came through his return from injury with no issues last week.
Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, a try scorer against Leicester, and Jack Conan are once again the first choice trio in the back row.
Frawley is the one change on the bench with last week’s European debutant, Joe McCarthy, holding onto his spot. Long-serving prop Cian Healy is in line for his 99th Champions Cup appearance.
They are joined by Dan Sheehan, Michael Ala’alatoa, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne. The winners of this afternoon’s clash will advance to play either Racing 92 or La Rochelle in the May 28 final in Marseille.
Looking forward to renewing rivalries with the defending champions, Ringrose said: “We have an opportunity again to achieve great things in this competition. Playing against Toulouse, a club with a rich European history, the only team with five stars on their shirt, will be a test against the very best in Europe.
“We were very happy with our victory (away to Leicester). It was an important part of our progress. We had a very difficult game, which was physically and mentally challenging at the same time.
“Everyone arrived on Monday morning with aches and pains. But in terms of energy, motivation, the group is looking forward to Saturday.
“We always enjoy winning games, but it’s the defeats that make you progress. We learnt a big lesson after that defeat (in last season’s semi-final away to La Rochelle).
“It has guided our motivation since the beginning of this season. We must now seize this opportunity on Saturday afternoon.”
Leinster last hosted Toulouse at the semi-final stage in 2019, also at the Aviva Stadium, in a game that the province won 30-12 in front of a 42,916-strong crowd.
Meanwhile, Toulouse boss Ugo Mola has made three changes to the side that won 4-2 on penalties against Munster, following last Saturday’s exhaustive quarter-final encounter at Irish Rugby HQ.
The title holders make a rapid return to the Aviva with Argentinian Juan Cruz Mallia returning from suspension to start on the right wing. He replaces the injured Dimitri Delibes.
Rodrigue Neti and Thibaud Flament both make way in the pack, with Cyril Baille and Anthony Jelonch, two key members of France’s Grand Slam-winning side this year, slotting back in at loosehead prop and number 8 respectively.
Injuries have sidelined both Baptiste Germain and Maxime Médard, so Toulouse’s six-two split on the bench now includes Martin Page-Relo and fit-again Australia Zack Holmes as the back-line options.
LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Joe McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciaran Frawley.
TOULOUSE: Thomas Ramos; Juan Cruz Mallia, Pierre Fouyssac, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand (capt), Dorian Aldegheri, Rory Arnold, Emmanuel Meafou, Rynhardt Elstadt, Francois Cros, Anthony Jelonch.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, David Ainu’u, Joe Tekori, Selevasio Tolofua, Thibaud Flament, Martin Page-Relo, Zack Holmes.
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley, Anthony Woodthorpe (both England)
Television Match Official: Stuart Terheege (England)
Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “From our point of view, there were some good parts in our performance (against Leicester last weekend). There’s lot of things we can get better at and that’s what we’ve tried to focus on as a group this week.
“It’s a fascinating challenge, Toulouse are a great team. We watched on with great interest last year, we got knocked out in the semi-final against La Rochelle, and watched Toulouse go on and beat La Rochelle.
“It’s a fascinating challenge, we have huge respect for them as a team. We’re just excited to get going at this point, dying for kick-off. Let’s get it on now.
“It’s what we’re excited about, and just rip into the challenge of playing the top team of Europe over the last 25 years of the competition. It doesn’t get much better really, we’re excited to get going.”
Ugo Mola (Toulouse) – “We play a team that totally masters the European games. Three years ago Leinster took us out (in) the semi-finals. We learned a lot that day, and three years later we are no longer the same (team). But neither (are) they.
“Leinster remains in my eyes a reference of European rugby, with this ability to provoke things, to have a structured, inspired and inspiring rugby.
“I remain convinced that they are the best team in Europe, for a very long time, in their rugby. In their way of thinking about rugby, with a philosophy and a whole organisation around this philosophy.”
Current Form – Leinster – (United Rugby Championship): Won 31-3 v Vodacom Bulls (home), Won 7-6 v Dragons (away), Won 43-7 v Zebre Parma (home), Won 50-15 v Scarlets (home), Won 31-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Lost 20-10 v Ulster (home), Won 47-19 v Connacht (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 45-20 v Bath (home), Match cancelled & result awarded to Montpellier (28-0) v Montpellier (away), Won 89-7 v Montpellier (home), Won 64-7 v Bath (away); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 29-27 v Cardiff Rugby (away), Won 26-7 v Edinburgh (home), Won 29-7 v Ospreys (home), Won 21-13 v Emirates Lions (home), Won 61-17 v Benetton Rugby (away), Lost 18-13 v Ulster (away), Won 45-8 v Connacht (away), Won 34-19 v Munster (away); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Won 26-21 v Connacht (away), Won 56-20 v Connacht (home); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 28-23 v Cell C Sharks (away), Lost 20-13 v DHL Stormers (away); (Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 23-14 v Leicester Tigers (away)
Toulouse – (Top 14 Championship): Won 20-16 v La Rochelle (away), Won 41-10 v Toulon (home), Won 17-15 v Montpellier (away), Won 27-15 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Won 17-11 v Biarritz Olympique (away), Won 38-10 v Pau (home), Lost 25-19 v Lyon (away), Won 41-0 v Castres Olympique (home), Lost 27-18 v Racing 92 (away), Won 37-15 v Perpignan (home), Won 18-11 v Brive (home), Lost 17-7 v Bordeaux Bègles (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 39-7 v Cardiff Rugby (away), Match cancelled & result recorded as 0-0 draw v Wasps (home); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 16-13 v Clermont Auvergne (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 30-22 v Wasps (away), Match cancelled & result awarded to Cardiff Rugby (28-0) v Cardiff Rugby (home); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 20-15 v Racing 92 (home), Lost 36-13 v Perpignan (away), Lost 29-28 v Stade Francais (home), Lost 27-22 v Pau (away), Won 12-11 v Bordeaux Bègles (home), Lost 23-16 v Stade Francais (away), Won 35-10 v Montpellier (home), Won 27-19 v Lyon (home), Lost 19-13 v Castres Olympique (away); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Lost 26-20 v Ulster (home), Won 30-23 v Ulster (away); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 19-15 v Toulon (away), Won 23-16 v La Rochelle (home); (Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 4-2 on penalties (24-24 after extra-time) v Munster (away)
Top Scorers – 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 50; Tries: James Lowe 8; Toulouse – Points: Thomas Ramos 46; Tries: Romain Ntamack 3
Previous European Meetings: 12
Sunday, April 21, 2019 – Semi-final – Leinster 30 Toulouse 12, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, January 12, 2019 – Pool 1 – Leinster 29 Toulouse 13, the RDS
Sunday, October 21, 2018 – Pool 1 – Toulouse 28 Leinster 27, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, April 30, 2011 – Semi-Final – Leinster 32 Toulouse 23, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, May 1, 2010 – Semi-Final – Toulouse 26 Leinster 16, Stade Municipal
Saturday, January 12, 2008 – Pool 6 – Leinster 20 Toulouse 13, the RDS
Sunday, November 18, 2007 – Pool 6 – Toulouse 33 Leinster 6, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, April 1, 2006 – Quarter-Final – Toulouse 35 Leinster 41, Stade Municipal
Sunday, January 13, 2002 – Pool 6 – Toulouse 43 Leinster 7, Stade Municipal
Friday, September 28, 2001 – Pool 6 – Leinster 40 Toulouse 10, Donnybrook
Saturday, October 11, 1997 – Pool A – Toulouse 38 Leinster 19, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, September 6, 1997 – Pool A – Leinster 25 Toulouse 34, Donnybrook
Match Facts –
– When Leinster clash with Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup’s last-four, the two sides will be meeting for the 13th time in the competition
– Only Munster and Castres Olympique (18) have faced each other more often in the tournament
– Five-time champions Toulouse have reached the European Cup semi-finals for the 14th time, drawing level with Munster for the most appearances at this stage. Four-time winners Leinster will be playing in their 13th semi-final
– This will be the fourth time Leinster and Toulouse have met in the semi-finals of the European Cup, the most played fixture at this stage of the competition (Munster v Saracens, 3 times)
– Toulouse won the first semi-final clash between the sides at Stadium de Toulouse in 2010, while Leinster have won their two such meetings since then
– Since losing to Toulouse in the pool stages of the Champions Cup in 2018/19, Leinster have gone on to win 21 of their 24 fixtures in the competition (lost 3, excluding cancelled matches)
– Toulouse are unbeaten in their last five trips to Ireland in the Champions Cup, winning four games before eliminating Munster in a place-kicking competition in last weekend’s quarter-finals
– Toulouse (2.79) and Leinster (2.85) are the only sides to boast an average ruck speed under three seconds in the Champions Cup this season. In defence, only Sale Sharks (4.15) have slowed down their opponents’ rucks more than Toulouse (3.99)
– Leinster have averaged the most metres (930) and line breaks (10.2) per game of any team in the Champions Cup this season, while Toulouse have beaten the most defenders (31.8) and made the most offloads (16.4) on average
– Toulouse scrum half Antoine Dupont has averaged six defenders beaten per game in the Champions Cup this season, the most of any player to feature more than once this campaign. Only Ulster’s Michael Lowry (29) has beaten more defenders than last year’s EPCR European Player of the Year (24)
– Toulouse full-back Thomas Ramos has made the most offloads of any player in the Champions Cup this season (16), while he has the best goal-kicking success rate of anyone to attempt more than 10 kicks at goal in 2021/22 (90%, 17/19)
– Leinster winger James Lowe has scored eight tries in the Champions Cup this season, more than any other player, while no player has made more line breaks than Lowe (9, level with Lowry and Clermont Auvergne’s Alivereti Raka)
European Cup Records:
Leinster –
2020/21: Reached the semi-finals
2019/20: Reached the quarter-finals
2018/19: Runners-up
2017/18: Champions
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2011/12: Champions
2010/11: Champions
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Champions
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1995/96: Reached the semi-finals
Toulouse –
2020/21: Champions
2019/20: Reached the semi-finals
2018/19: Reached the semi-finals
2016/17: Reached the quarter-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Reached the semi-finals
2009/10: Champions
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Runners-up
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Champions
2003/04: Runners-up
2002/03: Champions
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Reached the semi-finals
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the semi Finals
1996/97: Reached the semi-finals
1995/96: Champions
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